Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Lure of ration cards for food led to Agra 'reconversion'?

Every human should be free to eat, drink, wear and believe
whatever the hell he or she wants, and no one should be forced to do otherwise in a
free country. It is the freedom that is allowing each one of us to be who we
are out of our own volition. At no cost we should let this freedom be
compromised.

This is the story of aggressive harassment by extremists among Hindus. Bajrang
Dal is becoming to be ISIS or Hindu ISIS of India, when this is allowed, at the
very end of the tunnel, no one, yes no one, including Hindus who do not
subscribe to their extremism will be affected severely.

I am glad the entire Muslim world is condemning ISIS, they are tarnishing the name of Islam and there is nothing Islamic about them, they are rogues and freaks. Even the Talibans have washed hands off them. Now, the entire Hindu world has Hindu-ISIS on their hands and I hope they condemn the harassment and threats
they pose to fellow Indians.

We should have no problem if Muslims convert to Hinduism or Hindus to
Christianity or any combination thereof, even if each group is lured
financially to become one. The politicians switch parties for money or election;
we change jobs for better money. Why shouldn't people switch for the same money, and meeting their
dire needs of food, clothing and a source of income?

For years the extremists among Hindus have attacked Christians for bribing
people to convert, and now they are doing the very same thing they accused
others of. What Muslims factually or allegedly did in the past, should remain
behind 1947. We are a new independent and free India and our story began on
August 15, 1947 and we don't want India to be like what we shun.

Now, every Indian is a goddamned Indian regardless of his or her faith, caste,
color, social, political or financial status, and we need to stand up against
injustice to every Indian. We should rise above pettiness and speak up, before
the extremism takes over and we have to regret.

I hope to write my 16th essay about Modi urging him to take the lead and speak
up and not be a silent spectator and watch his dream, like the dream of 1.25
billion Indians go down the drain. We want pragati and not religion.

Mike Ghouse

www.MikeGhouse.net

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TIMES OF INDIALure of ration cards for food led to Agra 'reconversion'?

Farhan, a slum dweller, said, "If 40 people in saffron scarves come and stand on your head, you will do just as they want." Farhan was among those who had taken part in the puja, washed the feet of Hindu gods and also briefly worn vermillion on his forehead. On Tuesday, though, he said it was all for getting those men in "saffron scarves" off his back.

The re-conversion event was painted as "ghar vapsi" or re-conversion of Muslims who had Hindu ancestry. It was organized by the Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal. A 'shuddhikaran hawan' was also performed in the slum.

Bajrang Dal functionary Ajju Chauhan said the re-conversion had indeed taken place, and if the people were denying it, it was out of fear. "All these people have Hindu ancestors. They just did 'ghar vapsi'," he said, adding, "They were not lured by ration cards or houses. They wanted to lead clean lives."

District magistrate Pankaj Kumar and SSP Shalabh Mathur said no one had approached them in connection with the re-conversion event.

Ismail, who led the 200-odd Muslims in the event, said he offered namaz on Tuesday after no one from the saffron outfits turned up in their neighbourhood. "We're poor people and anyone can do anything with us. We can't afford to lose our lives over religion and conversion," Ismail said, adding that the promise of ration cards and houses had drawn many people.

"They first threatened to get us to vacate our homes. The land is owned by a Hindu. Later, they said that if we converted, we would get houses and better schooling for children," Ismail said. The women who had posed before cameramen on Monday sappeared withdrawn the day after and would not even allow the kids out to play.